Description

Background: PRESIDENT LEOPOLD SENGHOR WAS ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 29) SWORN IN FOR A THIRD TERM IN OFFICE AS PRESIDENT OF SENEGAL AFTER HIS RE-ELECTION UNOPPOSED LAST SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 25).

THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY, PRESIDED OVER BY THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE SUPREME COURT, M. KEBA M'BAYE TOOK PLACE AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING IN THE PRESENCE OF MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS, UNIVERSITY HEADS AND JUDGES.

PRESIDENT SENGHOR TOOK THE OATH AS FOLLOWS:
"I SWEAR IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND OF THE SENEGALESE NATION TO FULFIL FAITHFULLY THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, TO OBSERVE AND MAKE OBSERVED SCRUPULOUSLY THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION AND OF THE LAWS, TO DEVOTE ALL MY STRENGTH TO DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, THE INTEGRITY OF THE TERRITORY AND NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE, AND TO SPARE NO EFFORT FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF AFRICAN UNITY."
THE SENEGALESE PRESIDENT IS 61 AND IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED, INFLUENTIAL AND ERUDITE HEADS OF STATE IN AFRICA. HAS LED HIS COUNTRY SINCE INDEPENDENCE IN 1960.

HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE DISSOLUTION OF THE SHORT-LIVED MALI FEDERATION UNITING MALI AND SENEGAL. HE WAS ELECTED FOR HIS SECOND TERM OF OFFICE IN DECEMBER 1963.